Mandya, Karnataka: Sumathi Manjunath, a Congress employee from Bengaluru, was up at 3 am Thursday and ready on the Jakkanhalli crossing, about 45 km from Mandya city, since 6 am. She and lots of extra girls, all dressed up, have been ready to catch a glimpse of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
“We’re excited to see her. When she was unwell, we couldn’t assist her in any means. All the women from Karnataka have arrived right here. We wish to inform her that each one girls stand together with her and search her blessings,” Sumathi mentioned.
“We don’t thoughts ready for one more 6 hours if required. We simply wish to see our chief,” she added, as automobiles made their means and the ladies raised the slogan of ‘Sonia Gandhi Zindabad’.
The Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra has now been on for a month and has traversed by means of Tamil Nadu and Kerala earlier than getting into its present leg in Karnataka.
After struggling two bouts of Covid, Sonia has been protecting extraordinarily unwell and went overseas for a few weeks to avail medical therapy. Sonia returned after the yatra had begun. Her son, Rahul Gandhi, held fort, strolling about 25 km every day of the yatra which started from Kanyakumari on 7 September.
On the Udaipur Nav Sankalp Shivir in Might, the place the concept of the yatra was floated and handed, Sonia had promised that even “the outdated” like her would take part within the bodily strenuous occasion — the most important the Congress has organised in a few years.
And it isn’t misplaced on the Congress cadres that she has saved her promise.
“Sonia Gandhi is strolling on the streets of Karnataka to unite this nation, to assist the farmers and to talk out towards corruption. You possibly can see that crowds have gathered as early as 6 am. That speaks for what she means to them. It’s the honour of the nation that she’s strolling immediately,” Karnataka Congress president D. Ok. Shivakumar informed ThePrint.
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A mother-son second
Whereas Rahul at all times walks within the entrance file of the caravan, a visibly enthused Sonia joined him this time. Resulting from her well being, the 75-year-old Congress president may solely stroll a few kilometre and a half, however that was sufficient to enthuse the cadres and, presumably, her son too.
At one level throughout the stroll, Sonia’s shoe laces acquired undone however Rahul shortly tied them up. The Congress president additionally interacted with leaders of the Karnataka unit, asking a few of them to stroll within the entrance file together with her.
Quickly sufficient, nonetheless, a involved Rahul requested her to cease in order that she doesn’t worsen her well being issues. After slightly protest, Sonia gave in and sat in a automotive. She spent about two hours with yatris, interacting with as many as she may.
On Wednesday whereas the walkathon was on its weekly break, the mother-son duo visited the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. There the 2 noticed an elephant and its injured calf. Thereafter, Rahul wrote to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, “crossing political boundaries” to hunt assist for the calf.
Indira’s daughter-in-law
Like Sumathi, there have been an amazing variety of girls who have been current on the yatra. Some in sarees with sport footwear, rubber chappals and even barefoot.
Talking to ThePrint, Sanjana Srikant, district president of the Mahila Congress in Mandya, claimed that they’ve been working round the clock for 15 days to ask girls to affix the yatra. And the response, she mentioned, was overwhelming.
“We used to go to each taluk and converse to the women. All of them within the rural areas know Indira Gandhi very effectively. They used to say, ‘Oh, Indira’s daughter-in-law? We wish to go and see her’,” mentioned Sanjana.
Many others like 56-year-old Kamrunnisa from Hassan have been additionally excited to see Sonia as a result of they’d seen Indira once they have been youthful. “She had come to Hassan after we have been children. We’d lined up and pushed crowds to catch a glimpse of her. It was the same spectacle immediately as effectively,” a beaming Kamrunnisa mentioned.
She was accompanied by 57-year-old Zarina, who mentioned that they needed to make a 10-hour journey to come back for the yatra. However the journey and the stroll took a toll on her knees. “I feel I’ll simply sit right here now and drink ‘nimbu paani’. Don’t suppose I’ll be capable to stroll anymore,” she mentioned.
However instantly these round her reminded Zarina of Sonia’s latest ailing well being and mentioned if Sonia can do it, she can also. They then go on to speak in regards to the (Nehru-Gandhi) household and their “contributions” to the nation. Your entire group from Hassan has at all times voted for the Congress.
Sonia’s dedication to affix the yatra, regardless of her well being, is the rationale why Poornima Koliwad determined to journey 300 km from north Karnataka to affix the yatra.
“She’s our chief and even with all of the sickness she’s made her means until right here so we don’t thoughts coming all this manner for her. We’re all overwhelmed to see her. I want her a speedy restoration and hope that she continues to information the social gathering for a lot of extra years,” Poornima mentioned with a observe of optimism.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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